Biden: Romney doesn't see value in education

DETROIT (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden says Mitt Romney doesn't treat public education as a priority and distrusts the hardworking teachers who struggle to create opportunity for the nation's young people.

Biden addressed 2,500 delegates at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Detroit on Sunday.

He says the Republican presidential candidate plans to gut education funding to finance tax breaks for the wealthy. And he says Romney and his GOP rivals made clear during the primary debates that "they don't think public education is worth the investment."

Biden says Romney backs Republican budget plans to slash spending on the Head Start preschool program, as well as grants and loans for college students.

The AFT represents 1.5 million teachers, second in membership to the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.

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